- The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO will succeed the mighty TRX, trading that truck’s 702-hp supercharged V-8 for a twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six with 540 horses.
- Despite a sizable power disadvantage, the RHO will inherit the TRX’s wide body, beefier frame, long-travel suspension, and chunky off-road tires.
- Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said the TRX nameplate is getting shelved, and it likely won’t return unless a more powerful powertrain is available—perhaps an electric one?
What’s worse? A world where six-cylinder Ram TRXs exist or one where V-8 TRXs have gone extinct. Both answers will likely appeal to different audiences, and since Ram doesn’t want to offend either side (read: relinquish market share), it’s simply releasing a new version of the high-performance pickup truck under a different name and with a less powerful engine.
RHO Replaces the TRX
Think of the upcoming Ram 1500 RHO as the TRX’s alter ego. Instead of having a 702-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 under its hood, the RHO has a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 540 horsepower. That’s the same power produced by the high-output Hurricane engine now available on the refreshed 2025 Ram 1500. Others will note that power figure is a significant 162 ponies shy of the outgoing truck’s beloved Hellcat engine, which will become a fossil after the 2024 model year.
Meanwhile, the TRX nameplate is going on the shelf. That’s according to Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, who recently told a group of reporters that a next-gen TRX would only return with more power. He also said the RHO’s horsepower deficit is the reason it’s not called a TRX. Still, just because the new truck won’t accelerate or sound like the old one doesn’t mean it can’t be a seriously fun off-roader.
Although we don’t have any specific details, Kuniskis told Car and Driver the RHO will have the same equipment as the TRX, albeit with a retuned suspension. That suggests the new version will continue with chunky 35-inch all-terrain tires, a reinforced frame, and a foot of suspension travel. The RHO will also inherit a wider body than the normal Ram 1500, and it will surely have some revised exterior elements and new interior tech courtesy of the regular truck’s facelift.
Next TRX?
The 2025 Ram 1500 RHO will go on sale sometime in the third quarter of next year. Between now and then we should get information on pricing. Kuniskis mentioned that it’ll be less expensive than the retired TRX, which last started at $97,485.
That brings us back to wondering when we might see Ram’s high-powered truck return to action, especially with the 700-hp Ford F-150 Raptor R now solely controlling the off-road-truck throne.
Since we know the TRX name won’t come back without at least 703 horses, and since Stellantis isn’t making anymore V-8s for Ram to use, the only logical thing left would be a TRX based on the new plug-in-hybrid Ramcharger or the electric Ram 1500 REV. Each make 650-plus horsepower, meaning it probably wouldn’t take much to surpass 703 or possibly higher.
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Senior Editor
Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
